A unique idea was recently presented to the Dixon City Council and The Dixon Planning Commission — a proposed live-work community with the idea of fostering research, development and new businesses.

The idea, very much in the conceptual stage, is to develop an “innovation village” on 260 acres in the city’s northeast quadrant south of the Interstate 80 interchange at Pedrick Road. The project, proposed by the Stronach Group, the owners of the property that could have been the Dixon Downs horse racetrack before voters declined it in 2007, have not yet submitted a formal proposal but provided city leaders an intriguing plan that drew interest.

There is a lack of homes for new research and development startups coming out of nearby University of California, Davis. The university stated a goal to have a project like this in Davis, Dixon City Manager Jim Lindley said, but neither the university or the city of Davis have been successful in developing one.

So the idea has been pitched to Dixon.

Stronach hopes to capture the “youthful energy,” a possible Silicon Valley north perhaps. They imagine a space where four different workforce platforms — research and development, public policy, business incubation and new business — can interact and collaborate. It would be a compact development with a variety of housing including apartments, townhouses and second and third story residences over retail shops and offices.

The development could bring in as many as 4,000 new residents. It would be a “complete community” with residents able to get to necessities without leaving the neighborhood. There would be research and development labs for work, a hotel conference center, offices, student and faculty housing, a central village green, community center, retail along Pedrick Road, a civic center, elementary school and library. Bicycle and pedestrian trails would be built throughout the village, and ideally there would be a bike trail that goes up Pedrick Road to Davis.

The plan would be somewhat isolated from the rest of Dixon but city councilors and planning commissioners were told that the village could have transit service to downtown. Also, all Dixon residents would be able to use the community facilities.

The Stronach Group has not yet had formal conversations with the university. They would like to have them involved, but if not, the space designated for their use will be opened up to businesses. The site does not yet have the necessary infrastructure but connections do exist at the boundary of the property, and they can build into the site. The project would require amendments to Dixon’s General Plan and the Northeast Quadrant Specific Plan, as well as rezoning the site to a planned development district and completion of environmental reviews.

Most leaders appeared to be interested by the proposal. It could address city shortages like jobs and housing — even offering the opportunity for high-tech jobs — which would help the city’s economic growth.

This project, of course, is very much in the preliminary stages but one that has piqued city interest. Dixon Downs didn’t have the support of voters. Maybe this project can someday have the horses to become a reality.